The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-15

point to have at least one case In which
there was material for a sensation, and
that case become the object of general
interest, because of the expectation that
it would give rise to something uncom-
mon: not indeed a display of great
learning, eloquence or argument, but
something to which no name could be
given to characterize it except that
which the quality bore-"Vannerso.
MAN"
Here is an instance: In Pike county,
when Van Tromp Crawford was circuit
Judge, two women we're indicted for an
assault and battery on man named
Tom Mingo The facts were, that on
account of some petty unpleasantness
springing up between neighbors, the
prosecutor had gone to the house of the
neighbor where the women were, not
knowing that the man of the house was
absent. in order to talk the matter over.
Being there, he lucklessly broached the
theme. There was at the house the
wife of the absent man and two female
visitors. One had come to finish piece
of cloth she had in the loom. the other
on a social visit. The two disengaged
women, when the topic was started, in
hicted on the ill-fated man tongue
lashing so intolerable that he started to
the fence enclosing the house, but as he
mounted it, one of the women seized a
wooden pitchfork which chanced to be
within reach, and gave him severe
punch in the back. The man, without
turning to see his assailant, continued
his retreat from the field. His story as
told to his neighbors and as a witness in
court was, that the women fell upon him
with sticks, each inflicting a blow, and
two very ugly bruises on the back
tended to confirm this belief. The wit
ness for the defense as the woman at
the loom, who saw the affair from a
window. She testified that the man got
but one thrust of the pitchfOrk. "Tell
me-" said Vannerson, "if there is not a
process in weaving by which the cloth
is said to be doubIe-struck?" 2" "Oh, yes, y
said the witness, smiling" "Then we
must conclude, madam, that Mingo's s
hide was d0uble-struck in the weaving" ="
The witness laughed, then the jury.
The contagion spread to the bystanders
and then to the lawyers, then it inyolv-
ed the dignifed judge. The coarseness
was forgotten in the absurd drollery of
the conceit. Some laughed at the poor
prosecutor, Others at the ridiculous at
tempt at pun, and then the mass alto
gether roared at this unexpected and
unaccountable episode in trial. The
speeches which followed were tame in
comparison with this capital joke. The
jury promptly acquitted the woman,
and would have done the same without
the joke, doubtless, but the result was
set down as Vaunersonian triumph.
1t is q wonder now how long this ri
diculous incident pursed the victim.
The writer frequently heard illusions to
it years after, when Wiley 7. Harris,
to whom the reader is indebted for
much in this article, was judge. In
those times there were very few news
papers, no railroads, and postofices
were rare. People got information of
passing events chiefly by going to court
twice a year. There the lawyers con-
gregated and brought news from many
points. 1t was a refreshing treat for
the farmers to hear the lawyers talk,
and their Jokes and anecdotes were car
ried home to many firesides to be re-
peated. Life in those days was narrow
ed to few experiences, and flowed In
its shallow bed with very little to en-
liven or diversity it. People hungered
for something to make merry over, and
the trial alluded to had long run be-
cause of the Vannersonianisms that dis
tinguished it.
The criminal lawyer depends less on
learning and more on a knowledge OF
men than those of the profession who
devote themselves to the study of prop
erty rights.
Vannerson, in closing his speeches in
criminal cases, was generally pathetic
in his appeals to the jury; at other
times he would indulge in sally OF
Vannersonian witticisms, often laugha-
BILE by their ludicrous absence of wit
for the purpose of producing merriment
at the expense of opposing counsel.
He was defending man for murder
in Hancock county, and Judge W. A.
Stone was employed to aid the District
Attorney, o. F. McCarty, in the prose
cution. The trial attracted an immense
crowd. Stone, though first-rate schol
ar, had the unfortunate habit, in the
rush of his impetuous defamation, o1
violating, at times, the plainest rules oi
the English grammar, and Vannersor
delighted to take off this peculiarity Of
his college bred brother. Stone was II
close the case for the State. After {
long speech, in which he shed some
tears and drew some from the eyes oi
others, Vannerson wound up as follows
Gentlemen of the jury: / have proved
to you, beyond all possibility of doubt
that my unfortunate client is not guilty
of murder, as charged in the indictment
but gentlemen, a murder most tou. vii
now be committed in this temple of JUS
tice, before your very eyes Lister
to my honorable friend while he nov
proceeds to murder the Kings Englishl I
1t took Stone some minutes to recove
from the embarrassment which thl
home-thrust created.
Vannerson was called Judge, but /
was not known when or how he acquires
that title. He represented the count.
of Adams in the Legislature in the day
of notification, and was claimed as
Federalist. He then became an uncom
promising Whig, and when that grea
party disbanded he held fast to it
memory and would take no other name
4
children. His first wife was Mrs. Allen
whose life was saddened by the death
her favorite son, General Allen, IN
| duel with Colonel A. K. McClung. Mrs
| Purcell, of Natchez, was his secon'
wife, and Mrs. Eliza Holley, nee Hargis
| who survived him for some years, wa
| the third, and she now sleeps besld
him in the forest cemetery at Montl
cello.
His manners were stately but courte
Gus and bland. He delighted to be toll
that he was aristocratic. Fierce enoug
| in temper when aroused, yet amiabiEt
| beamed from his blue eyes and hanc
/ some face. There was a tradition tina
/ at one time in Natchez he was very ric
| and dispensed liberal hospitality. A
/ Monticello he lived somewhat as n
cluse, though up to the war possessin
all the luxurious surroundings tha
make life charming. His residencs
with its wide hall, and elegantly ful
nished rooms, was situated in the sut
urbs of the town, in the midst of a
| umbrageous grove of second growt
pines, several acres in extent. In limits
ton of millionaires around Natchez, b
named it "Roslin Castle" Here, wit
his good wife, surrounded by his faitl
full slaves and dogs-he had no childre
he looked as if he felt that there wa
no better, happier or greater man tina
| Vsnnerson. He was often heard to sa
that he had royal blood in his vein
and that he ought to be called ALor
i Vannerson.n At "Roslin" he sometime
entertained in magnificent style distiT
guished persons from abroad, judge
politicians and lawyers. bis office, nes
the courthouse, was in striking contra
with his residence. 1t was q curiosit,
An old square weatherboarded buildin
without ceiling, paint or glass window
Il with heavy oaken bookcases, filed wit